From Father Steven - August 4, 2024

Father Steven Clemence • August 2, 2024

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

 

This week, I am delighted to share updates on upcoming parish projects and initiatives.

 

Nineteen high schoolers from our parish embarked on a mission trip to the Bronx, where they engaged in street evangelization alongside the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and Sisters of Charity (founded by Mother Teresa) and the Sisters for Life. It was an amazing experience to discover Christ in the poor…and to realize that at times we can be poorer than them. I will ask them to share their experience with you very soon.

 

As you may be aware, Archbishop Cardinal Seán will soon retire as the Archbishop of Boston. As per canon law, bishops submit their resignation upon reaching the age of 75. The Pope typically accepts the resignation between the bishop's 75th and 80th birthdays. Cardinal Seán turned 80 last month. Therefore, we anticipate the Pope's acceptance of his resignation and the appointment of a new Archbishop for Boston in the near future. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cardinal Seán for his dedicated service and unwavering commitment to our archdiocese. As a deacon I was at the Cathedral, and I was able to witness his immense love for the people.

 

On a separate note, we are excited to share the plan to create two new groups in the parish. They are still in their early stages. The first is a bereavement group This ministry provides support and guidance to those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. The second is like an Emmaus group. This group is designed for seniors, widows, widowers, and all who seek fellowship and spiritual growth. Members will gather weekly for social events, theological discussions, and shared life experiences, fostering friendships and ensuring that no one walks their journey alone.

 

With the arrival of Father Gabriel and Father Victor, we are exploring the possibility of offering short-term programs, including theology lessons. This summer, we will also offer to bless homes that have not yet received God's presence. If you would like your home to be blessed, please contact Lee Ann in the office.

 

Additionally, we will take advantage of the summer months to upgrade various aspects of our church building, including repairs and painting of windows, cleaning and installing new gutters, and general maintenance. All the work is being done by parishioners who have companies that allows us to pay reasonable pricing thanks to your generous offerings in the maintenance and development collections. Hopefully you have noticed the work done in the landscaping of the parking lot and around the church.

 

Lastly, in August, I will be away on vacation, followed by participation in a mission. I will spend time with my family and dedicate myself to spiritual reflection and evangelization. Please keep us priests and staff in your prayers so that we can best serve you in this upcoming year. Be assured also of our daily prayers for each one of you. Feel free to share with us any special intentions we may pray for. We also ask that you inform us if you or someone you know is experiencing medical challenges or has been hospitalized. We will gladly visit and keep them in our prayers.

 

I hope you have a great end of your summer break never leaving Jesus behind. Take advantage to pray a bit more, go to confession anywhere, and do things you usually don’t have the time to do. Work is important, so is recreation. The equilibrium between the two is the foundation for a balanced life.

 

God Bless You,

Fr. Steven

 

From Father Steven - February 22, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 20, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We begin this holy and wonderful time of Lent with the image of the desert, as we will hear in the Gospel. The time of Lent is like a desert, or like the exodus of the people of Israel passing from the slavery of Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. The image of the desert is very important for the people of Israel. In the Scriptures, it is a privileged place to meet the Lord. There is no food, no comfort, no distraction—only sand and more sand. It is in the desert that God reveals Himself. He speaks to the people. In the Hebrew tradition, it is in the desert that God marries His people. In our daily lives, we get lost with so many worries, projections, and expectations. In the desert there is nothing. We are forced to depend on God, even though we do not like to depend on others. We prefer to be independent. There, either you trust God, or you die. In this strange place, God provides food (manna and quails), shelter (the cloud that accompanied the people), and water (from the rock). As in marriage the couple becomes one, so it is with the Lord, who wants to be one with us. The time of Lent is a spiritual desert. We do not eat meat on Fridays, we fast, we abstain from electronics, we give up activities that we like, we become poor by giving alms—and only then can we see God more clearly. However, if we do not empty ourselves this Lent, we will not see the Lord, much less listen to Him. Like the people of Israel, we will be circling around for a long time. We began Lent with the imposition of ashes. We were reminded that we are dust and that we need to convert. Through vices, sins, and bad habits, we are not as free as God wants us to be. At times we do things only to please others, out of social pressure, or to keep up an image. In this way (and in other ways), we are enslaved in order to fit in. We are incapable of loving with 100% of our hearts. This Lent, God wants to make the journey of exodus with us. For that, we need to begin in Egypt. As Moses listened to God and did His will, so we are called to do the same. Therefore, we will need to silence the noise and the distractions around us. Like in the episode of the burning bush, we are called to draw closer to the Lord and “see the marvelous sight.” That is called prayer. It is not a matter of only reciting words; it is a dialogue with God. Which means that as we speak, we also need to listen. Today, no one teaches us how to contemplate what God is doing in our lives. Stop for 20 minutes each day and think or contemplate what graces you have received recently, what difficulties God has helped you overcome through these years. What is going to be the next step on your journey? In which direction is God pointing you? What will be your next mission? Unless we stop and simply listen to Him, we will be deceived by our own thoughts and by temptations, like Adam and Eve. We will also have a great opportunity to listen to Him during the one-day Lenten Mission that Sister Olga will lead for us on February 28th. She is a very inspired woman. It is a great privilege for us to be able to host her. It will be free, but we do ask you to register so that we can have an idea of how many people will attend. That morning, she will also have a special time with the women. Do not miss this opportunity. Last but not least, like last year, we will be giving out Lenten boxes to help us give alms. As Jesus says, “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” All the money collected will be given to St. Vincent de Paul to help the poor of the parish and of the city of Marlboro. Additionally, if you give up coffee or soda during Lent, put in the box the money that you are not spending. Be aware that there are a lot of people who need help, more than ever. So if you would like to make an additional contribution, you can use the poor boxes located at the exit of the church. May the Lord assist you in this holy campaign of Christian service as we take up the battle against spiritual evils, and may we be armed with the weapons of self-restraint. God Bless, Fr. Steven

From Father Steven - February 15, 2026

By Father Steven Clemence • February 13, 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters, We all know that God is love and that He does everything to help us attain salvation. However, we are not always aware of the graces He has prepared for us. At other times, we do not take advantage of the opportunities when they are offered to us. This week, I would like to briefly highlight some special opportunities that will be given to us in the coming days. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for those who need it. For a long time, it was known as the Last Rites or Extreme Unction. Therefore, it still carries the taboo that only those who are dying should receive this sacrament. The Rite of Anointing tells us that there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. As its name indicates, this sacrament is for those who are facing serious illness, undergoing surgery, or experiencing the frailty of old age. When the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is given, we pray that, if it be God’s will, the person may be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is spiritual healing, by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age. It is very important for those who are facing something serious to receive the grace of the sacrament in order to be helped by God. Therefore, we urge anyone who needs it to ask for the sacrament. If you know someone who is in a nursing home, they should also receive the sacrament while conscious in order to be helped by God. Unfortunately, sometimes people wait until it is too late. This Sunday, after the 11:00am Mass, we will have a small celebration for anyone who needs the sacrament. It can also be scheduled by calling the office. From Sunday to Monday, we will have the opportunity to spend time with Jesus during 24 hours of adoration. Considering that Monday is a holiday, it is a special moment to slow down our lives and recharge the battery of our soul. This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. There will be other opportunities to continue receiving God’s grace, such as praying the Stations of the Cross on Fridays. Next weekend we will be holding a retreat for couples to help and sanctify their relationship. Do not miss it. Finally, on Saturday, 2/28, Sister Olga will be leading us in a Lenten Parish Mission from 12:30–2:00pm. Finally, I would like to touch very briefly on something that I will later dedicate more time to expanding upon. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about adultery as when a person who was married before, and after a divorce marries another person. This is different from separation. The promise made before God is to be faithful in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, all the days of one’s life. Therefore, that promise cannot be broken until death. If there are problems that lead to a separation, there are still ways to live a holy life. We have prepared a team to assist couples who would like to begin the process of nullity of their marriage. Soon, I will write a bulletin letter with details about what it is and what it is not, and set up a meeting to explain it better. I also take this opportunity to encourage anyone who has not received the Sacrament of Marriage (who was not married in the Church) to do so. It can be a very simple process to receive an immense grace!  Let us not pass up these opportunities to receive God’s grace. He walks with us every step of the way and sustains and strengthens us with the Sacraments and through the love and concern of the Church. He also respects our free will. If we are not open to grace or simply refuse it, then there is very little He can do. He will never give up on us! Let us not give up on Him either! God Bless, Fr. Steven